Lamp construction



Dec. 13, 1955 v. OHARENKO LAMP CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1953 VLADIMIR OHARENKO HIS A TTORNEY Dec. 13, 1955 v. OHARENKO LAMP CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1955 INVENTOR. VLADIMIR Ul-IARENKO HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent" LAMP CONSTRUCTION Vladimir Oharenko, Rochester, NLY.

Application February 20, 1953, Serial No. 337,988

7 Claims. (Cl. 24090) i This invention relates to electric lamps, and more particularly to portable electric lamps such as those used as hand lamps in troubleshooting and many, types of repair work, one object of the present invention being to provide an improved lamp having a rugged and efficient construction which may be' readily and economically manufactured and assembled.

Another object is to provide a lamp of the above nature which is particularly well adapted to resist shocks and impacts thereon so as to provide a safe and reliable lamp for use in repair and construction work, such as in automobile or other machinery construction and repair sho s.

1% these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lamp embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the lampshownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the lamp housing showing the construction thereof; I V

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of the bulb receptacle, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lamp showing a second type of external guard mounted thereon. 7

The present invention, here in disclosed by way of illustration, preferably comprises a lamp housing shown generally at 19, Fig. 1, and a clamping or supporting structure shown generally at 21 by means of which the lamp may be readily held in the desired position of angular adjustment so as to projector throw the beam of light in the desired direction.

, Lamp housing 19 is particularly designedto resist shocks and impacts thereon so as to provide an improved, portable, shock resistant repair or trouble light especially adapted for use in automotive and other repair shops.

To this end, the lamp housing comprises a reflector 23 (Figs. 1 and 3), preferably spun of a light-weight metal, such as aluminum or other suitable material. Reflector 23 is open at opposite ends thereof and flares outwardly towards the right-hand end thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. A bulb receptacle'or socket 25, preferably of rubber or other suitable electrical insulating material, is frictionally fitted in the opening in the smaller end 27 of reflector 23, as shown in Fig. 3. Receptacle is adapted to support and provide electrical contact to an incandescent bulb 29 and for this purpose is provided with suitable circuit means, as hereafter described, including a pair of wires 31 extending outwardly therefrom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, for connection to a suitable source of electrical energy. A switch (not shown) may be included in this circuit to increase the ease of operation.

Socket or receptacle 25 snugly fits within the opening formed in the end 27 of the reflector and has a flange or lip 33 (Fig. 3) adjacent the inner end thereof which abuts against the inner surface of reflector end 27, as shown in Fig. 3. The frictional engagement between socket 25 and end 27 of the reflector is sufficient to hold the socket in position there n, while at the same time it allows the socket to yield or give relative to the reflector, thereby absorbing impacts thereon without transmitting the same to the reflector or bulb. Flange 33 prevents the receptacle from being pulled outwardly through open end 27.

Reflector 23 flares outwardly towards the right end thereof, as viewed in Fig. 3, and is provided with a turned back lip 35 (Fig. 3). A resilient annular ring or band 37 (Fig. 3) of natural or synthetic rubber or of suitable acid and oil resistant, resilient material such as Koroseal is preferably fitted over theright end and lip 35' of the reflector, as shown in Fig. 3, for supporting a light-trans: mitting member or lens 39, and for providing a cushion to absorb impacts on lens 39 or on the right end of the re flector. Ring 37 is of sufficient thickness so that, when the lamp housing is resting on a substantially plane surface, reflector 23 is held above said surface, being supported at opposite ends thereof by ring 37 and receptacle 25. That is, regardless of how the lamp housing falls onto a plane surface, the reflector will not strike thereagainst, but rather the impact will be taken up and absorbed by either ring 37 or receptacle 25, or both, thereby eflfectively cradling and protecting bulb 29.

Lens 39 is preferably of a shock-resistant material, such as Plexiglas or Lucite, or othersuitable lighttransmitting, plastic material, and is capable of resisting heavy impacts thereagainst. In order to further protect lens 39 and allow it to absorb shocks without transmitting the same to reflector 23, ring 37 is preferably provided with an inwardly-extending flange or ridge 41 (Fig. 3) between the grooved seat 43 (Fig. 3) which supports lens 39 and the grooved seat 45 (Fig. 3) which engages lip 35 of the reflector. As a result, lens 39, although held in. close proximity to the right hand end of the reflector, is spaced therefrom so that it may have a relative movement thereto, thereby transmitting impacts on lens 39 to ring 37, where they are easily dissipated, rather than to reflector 23. Ring 37 forms a sulficiently close fit with the reflector and lens that it efiectively prevents dust and other dirt from contacting bulb and inner surfaces of the reflector and lens and to improve the cushioning action thereof it may be formed with an annular air space or cavity therein (not shown) outwardly of flange 41.

Socket 25 is provided with circuit means preferably comprising a threaded sleeve 47 (Fig. 5) for engaging the outer portion of the base of the bulb and conducting electrical energy thereto and a center contact member 49 for engagement with the center contact of the bulb for completing the circuit thereto, as well understood in the art. However, I have found that the breakage of bulbs can be decreased and more effective cradling thereof can be obtained by inserting an inner bottom member 51 (Fig. 5) of rubber or other suitable elec-' trical insulating material which is adapted to fit adjacent the base of sleeve 47, as shown in Fig. 5, and which is provided with a small coil spring 53 for conducting the electrical current from the center contact of the socket to the center contact of the lamp bulb. As a result, electrical contact may be completed to the bulb without the necessity of screwing said bulb into the socket as is normally the case. That is, contact spring 53 is of such a length that it Will engage the center contact of bulb 29 as soon as the base of the bulb is brought into contact with the open end of sleeve 47. Thus, it is not necessary to fully or even partially thread the bulb into the socket to complete the electrical circuit thereof, but it may be completed by merely holding the base of the bulb against the open end of the socket.

However, as the threads on the bulb base and the threads on sleeve 47 cannot be used to hold the bulb in the above position of initial contact, some additional means are necessary to hold the bulb in engagement with the spring 53 and sleeve 47. I have found it desirable that the holding means be of such a nature that, upon impact, the bulb may move out of contact with the socket, thereby preventing impacts on the socket from being transmitted to the bulb. To this end, I preferably provide a resilient means, such as a plurality of spaced coil springs 55 (Fig. 3) which are connected to reflector 23 by means of rivets 57 and which extend inwardly and somewhat downwardly toward the smaller end' 27 of the reflector. Springs 55 engage the bulb adjacent the glass end thereof, above the point of greatest diameter, as shown in Fig. 3, and not only exert suf ficient force to hold the bulb in electrical contact with receptacle 25, but they also serve to form a resilient cushion between the bulb and reflector 23, thereby preventing the bulb from striking against the reflector and breaking when the lamp is dropped or struck. Springs 55 also allow the bulb to move out of engagement with receptacle under slight impacts so that the bulb is not subjected to these impacts, as would be the case if it were securely threaded into' the receptacle to the full depth of sleeve 47. That is, bulb 29, being free to move relative to socket 25, is less likely to be damaged by the impacts than would be the case if it were securely threaded into the socket. As springs engage the bulb above the point of maximum diameter thereof, they exert a resilient downward pressure on the bulb so that after the impact, the bulb is automatically returned into engagement with the socket. Thus, the lamp hous-' ing may be subjected to many impacts and shocks which will be absorbed thereby without causing the bulb to momentarily move out of engagement with socket 25, but in case of heavier shocks which are transmitted to the socket, the bulb is free to move relative thereto, and thus, is not subjected to the shock. Under all but the heaviest shocks, the bulb, if caused to move relative to socket 25, is automatically returned into engagement therewith by springs 55. Under the heaviest shocks the bulb may be moved to such an extent that the point of largest diameter is forced by the springs, in which case, the springs engage the bulb adjacent the base thereof and hold the same out of engagement with re flector 23 and against lens 39. In this case, it is then necessary to rernove lens 39, and push the bulb back against the action of springs 55 into contact with the open end of socket 25.

If desired, bulb 29 may be only partially threaded into sleeve 47 so that, although it will remain in engagement therewith, it may rock relative thereto, thereby preventing the full impact on receptacle from being transmitted to the bulb. Even if the bulb is fully threaded into socket 25, it still may have a limited rocking movement relative thereto, so that should the impact not have been fully absorbed before reaching the bulb, the bulb may move relative to the socket and absorb the nearly spent shock without damage.

In addition to the above cushioning action, I may also provide external cushioning means such as a helical wire coil 58 (Fig. l) or a plurality of members 59 (Fig. 6) preferably extending longitudinally of the lamp housing and engaging at opposite ends thereof the outer surfaces of ring 37 and receptacle 25 for forming therewith a resilient guard or cradle for receptacle 23 and bulb 29. Cushioning members 59 are also preferably of wire or other suitable material and are held in contact with ring 37 by a circumferentially-extending wire ring 61 (Fig. 6) and in engagement with receptacle 25 by a circumferentially-extending wire ring 63 (Fig. 6). Cushioning members 58 and 59 have a natural resiliency, and

as they are supported at opposite ends thereof by resilient ring 37 and resilient socket 25, they form further protection for the lamp in' that impacts on members 58 and 59 will be transmitted to, and dissipated by, said ring and receptacle without affecting bulb 29. I have found that the wire guards formed by cushioning members 58 and 59 are particularly advantageous when the lamp is used in automobile repair shops and the like where small tools or parts are apt to strike the lamp housing or the lamp may fall on a non-yieldable, irregular surface which, were it not for the presence of guards, would strike the reflector itself and possibly cause the fracture of bulb 29. The 'wire guards also protect the workmen from contacting the reflector which often becomes quite hot after extended periods of use, and provides a safe area where the lamp may be grasped for moving or adjusting the same. The means for supporting and positioning the above lamp housing preferably comprises a spring clamping mechanism 21, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. &1pporting clamp structure 21 preferably comprises a pair of clips or clamp members 65 which are curved at one end thereof to engage the body of receptacle 25 and are formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof with concave seats for en gaging one end of a universal, double ball-joint member shown generally at 67 (Fig. 1). Member 67 comprises a pair of spaced spheres 68 connected by a short shaft 69, as shown in Fig. 2. Clamping members 65 are held in engagement with re'ceptacle25 and universal member 67 by a bolt 70 and wing nut 71. A second pair of clamping membegs 73, provided with a clamping bolt and wing nut 77, are formed adjacent one end thereof with a concave seat for engaging the lower sphere of universal member 67 and at the opposite ends thereof securely engage the coil portion 79 of a spring clamp 81 having a pair ofrubber-encased grips $3 at the lower end thereof. Grips 83 may be spread for slipping the same on opposite sides of an object by merely squeezing the clamp and, upon release thereof, will firmly grip the object therebetween and securely hold the lamp in the desired position of adjustment. I have found that the gripping action can be improved by bowing grips 83 outwardly as at 85 adjacent the middle of the ends thereof as shown in Fig. 1. Wing nuts 77 and 71 are tightened sufficiently so that the lamp housing will stay in the desired position of angular adjustment relative to clamp 81, while at the same time allowing the lamp to be easily swung about said clamp for projecting the beam in the desired direction.

Thus, it will be seen that my invention provides an improved shock-resistant lamp which is particularly well adapted for construction or repair worksuch as in the manufacture and repair of automobiles, farm equipment and other heavy machinery. The bulb 29 is held in spaced relationship with the reflector by springs 55 so that impacts on thereflector are not transmitted to the bulb. In turn, the reflector is cushioned against impacts from falling and other shocks by the resiliency and yielding action of receptacle 25 and mounting ring 37. In addition, further cushioning of the reflector is provided by the outer wire guard formed by members 58 and 59 while the righthand end of the reflector and bulb are protected by lens member 39. Thus, objects striking the lamp housing will have all or most of their force arrested and dissipated by the various cushioning and cradling members so that the bulb will not be broken and the lamp may be kept in use without valuable time lost in replacing the bulb after each impact. However, should the impact be so great that the above cushioning and cradling members were unable to absorb all of the force thereof, the bulb is still protected against breakage by the fact that it may move out of engagement with the socket and is held in spaced relationship with the reflector by springs 55 so that under the most severe impacts the bulb is undamaged.

In most instances where movement of the bulb relative to the socket takes place, the movement is so slight that springs 55 are easily able to return the bulb into electrical contact With the socket. However, if the bulb should be moved so as to carry the point of largest diameter by springs 55, the bulb may be readily returned to its initial position by merely removing the ring 37 part Way around reflector and reaching in with the fingers and pushing the bulb past springs 55 towards socket 25.

Thus, my invention provides an improved lamp having a rugged construction and capable of remaining in substantially continuous use despite heavy blows or impacts thereagainst. This means that the operator using the lamp may continue Work uninterruptedly without the necessity of having to lay down his tools or stop his particular task to replace the bulb, as has been the case With lamps heretofore known and used. Not only does this increase the operators efficiency and reduce lost time, but it results in a further economy in that, under a given set of circumstances, far fewer bulbs are broken so that the expenditure for bulbs is also materially reduced.

it Will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and While it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

i claim:

1. A shocloresistant lamp housing comprising a reflector, a yieldable cushioning member mounted on said reflector adjacent one end thereof, a receptacle yieldably mounted at the opposite end of said reflector, a bulb, resilient means enga ing said bulb and reflector for holding said bulb in e gagernent with said receptacle and in spaced relationship with said reflector, resilient guard means en ing the outer surfaces of said cushioning member receptacle and extending therebetween for forming therewith an impact absorbing shield for said reflector and bulb, and circuit means for connecting said receptacle and bulb to a source of electrical energy.

2. A shock-resistant lamp housing comprising a reflector open at opposite ends thereof, a light-transmitting closure member for one end of said reflector, a cushioning member mounted on said reflector adjacent one end thereof for yieldably holding said closure member, a receptacle yieldably mounted at the opposite end of said reflector, a bulb mounted in said receptacle, resilient means engaging said bulb and reflector for holding said bulb in position in said receptacle, and circuit means for connecting said receptacle and bulb to a source of electrical energy.

3. A shock-resistant lamp housing comprising a reflector open at opposite ends thereof, a light-transmitting closure member, a cushioning member mounted on said reflector adjacent one end thereof for holding said closure member, a receptacle yieldably mounted at the opposite -"d reflector, a bulb mounted in said receptacle, of spaced members engaging the outer surlcces or" said cushioning member and receptacle and extending therebetween for forming therewith an impactabsorbing shield for said reflector and bulb, and circuit means for connecting said receptacle and bulb to a source of en rgy.

4. A shocli-resistant lamp housing comprising a reflector open at opposite ends thereof, a light-transmitting closure member, a cushioning member mounted on said reflector adjacent one end thereof for supporting said closure member, a receptacle yieldably mounted at the opposite end of reflector, a bulb, resilient means engaging said bulb and reflector for holding said bulb in engagement with said receptacle and in spaced relationship with said reflector, and circuit means for connecting said receptacle and bulb to a source of electrical energy.

5. A shock-resistant lamp housing comprising a reflector open at opposite ends thereof, a light-transmitting closure member for one end of said reflector, a cushioning ring mounted on said reflector adjacent one end thereof for yieldably holding said closure member in spaced proximity with said reflector, a receptacle yieldably mounted at the opposite end of said reflector, a bulb, resilient means engaging said bulb and reflector for holding said bulb in engagement With said receptacle and in spaced relationship with said reflector, and circuit means for connecting said receptacle and bulb to a source of electrical energy.

6. A shock-resistant lamp housing as specified in claim 5 in which said resilient means comprises a plurality of spaced springs mounted at one end thereof on said reflector and extending inwardly and towards said receptacle for holding the bulb in engagement therewith and in spaced relationship with said reflector.

7. A shock-resistant lamp housing as specified in claim 5 including a plurality of spaced members engaging the outer surfaces of said cushioning ring and receptacle and extending therebetween for forming therewith an impact absorbing shield for said reflector and bulb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

